Mississippi universities cut jobs, trim programs - Shelia Byrd, Associated Press

Job cuts, retirements and scaled-back programs are some of the steps Mississippi's eight public universities are taking to deal with tight finances this school year and the next. It's unclear how such measures might affect what's being offered to students in the classroom. Earlier this week, faculty and staff at the University of Southern Mississippi received a letter about of plans to lay off 29 faculty members next academic year, among other reductions. At Mississippi State University, 280 faculty and staff have signed up for a retirement incentive program that was implemented July 1.